Thanks to the folks at Otago University for opening up testing of ConferenceXP to the larger NZ community, below you can find details on how to connect and to test your sites to this alternate video conferencing solution.
We will be posting more information on our website if this technology increases as a choice of video conferencing on KAREN.
ConferenceXP
ConferenceXP is suitable for connecting to multiple sites and using multiple cameras at each site.
ConferenceXP uses a system of "Clients" which must connect to a ConferenceXP “Server” to enable a ConferenceXP conference. This normally requires a multicast network, but can be run point-to-point on a unicast network. The server has a series of "virtual" meeting rooms. A server is capable of hosting several meetings simultaneously in different virtual rooms.
The server is at Otago: http://confxpvs-mc.otago.ac.nz. Virtual rooms available to ‘public” users are TestRoom, Genreal1,General2. Local venue is not a virtual room but merely a reflection of your own client.
Other servers either within NZ or overseas may also be used for conferences.
ConferenceXP version 5.0 is used at Otago. A Client User guide is available at:
http://cct.cs.washington.edu/project-wiki/index.php/ConferenceXP_Client_...
To run ConferenceXP: Double-click the CXPClient 5 icon on the desktop. A “ConferenceXP Recording Notification” advisory notice will appear. Please read and click “OK.” A ConferenceXP window will appear with icons for each virtual room. Click on the appropriate room to start or join a conference. To exit the conference venue, click on the “Leave Venue” bar near the top of the ConferenceXP control window.
Please note: Settings for ConferenceXP can only be changed when you are not connected to a virtual room.
The following are the addresses required to connect to the Otago server: (Click on Settings\Services\configure to add each of the addresses below. The default “gigapop” address can also be used for testing.)
Venue service: http://confxpvs-mc.otago.ac.nz/venueservice
Reflector service: confxpvs-mc.otago.ac.nz
(Ticking the box for the Reflector server makes ConferenceXP run in unicast mode.)
Diagnostic service: http://confxpvs-mc.otago.ac.nz/diagnosticservice
Audio/video settings:
I would suggest running compressed video at a maximum of 5Mb/s. Window layout is best set as Tiled, otherwise windows hide behind each other.
Audio setting are not critical, but uncompressed audio at 44.1 mono with forward error correction disabled appears to be preferable.
There are no audio meters, so sound levels need to be set initially using the Windows Record and Playback mixers.